Material slitting device



Oct; 4, 1932.

R. E. M FARLAND MATERIAL SLITTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 10, 1930 F/c. Z.

' /NVE/VTOR R.E.f7"FARL/\-D ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 4, 1932- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RoBnR'r E. MCFARLAND, or LA. GRANGE, rumors, ASSIGNOR. ro WESTERN ELECTRIC 4 COMPANY, INCORPORATED, or NEW, Y RK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK Mam-mannnvrcn Application filed se te'zjnrit 1930. Serial no. 480,839.

This invention relates to material devices, and more particularly to 'a device for splitting mult-i-conductor cables-into separate individually insulated conductors.*- I

In the manufacture of insulated electrical conductors, particularly rubber covered'conductors, it hasbeen found economical, in some instances, to first produce a multi-conductor cable by extruding a common integralf'covering upon a plurality of conductors disposed in spaced parallel relationship and then slitting the covering material lengthwise inter.- mediate the-conductors'to produce a plural-, ity of separate individually insulated conductors. The insulation between the conductors may be formed of a reduced cross section to facilitate the subsequent slitting operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and eflicient material slittin device.

plates the provision of a device for s litting a double conductor rubber covered ca le into separate individually insulated conductors, wherein the cable is advanced between peripherally opposed circular knives secured to spaced rotatable arbors between spring pressed rollers rotatablycarried upon the ar bors and arranged to accommodate irregw.

. ing features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein'like reference numerals designate the same parts in the several views, it will be observed that a pair of peripherally opposed circular knives or cutters 10-10 are secured to spaced parallel shafts or arbors 11-11, rotatably journalled at each end in spaced supporting standards ne embodiment of the invention contem-' are rotatably carried upon the arbors 11, one

Ion either side of each of the knives 10. The

rollers 14 are yieldably pressed toward the knives by compression springs 16, 16 interposed between the rollers and collars 1717 fixed to the arbors 11. The. collars 17 also serve to prevent longitudinal displacement of the arbors.

The rollers 14 are provided with peripheral grooves 18 which conform to the contour of and cooperate to accommodate a cable 19 comprising a pair of spaced parallel conductors 20- 20 having a common integral covering 21 ofrubber or rubber composition, the covering material being formed of reduced cross section intermediate the conductors, as

indicated at 22, to facilitate the splitting operation.

In the operation of the device, a double conductor cable 19 is drawn from a supply source (not shown) between the spring pressed rollers 14 which compensate for irregularities in the rubber covering and thereby cooperate to constantly maintain the'cable properly centered with respect to the knives 10 so that the covering material 21 is evenly and uniformly slit along the reduced section 22 thereof. In

this manner the insulating covering of the separated individual conductors are maintained substantially uniform in cross section throughout the length of the conductors.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated and described represents only one useful form of the invention which is capable of other applications within the scope of the appended claims. What is claimed is:

1. In a material slitting device, material slitting means, and a plurality of cooperating guide rollers co-axial therewith for yieldably engaging the material to center it with respect to the slitting means.

2. In a material slitting device, a supporting shaft, a pair of freely rotatable rollers carried thereby for guiding the material, and a material slitting element mounted upon the shaft between the rollers.

3. In a material slitting device, a supporting shaft, a pair of material engaging rollers carried thereby, a material slitting element mounted upon the shaft between the rollers, and means yieldably pressing the rollers toward each other 4. In a material slitting device, a plurality of spaced shafts, a circular cutter carried upon each of the shafts, means for maintaining the cutters in peripheral alignment, and

means on said shafts for yieldably engaging the material to center it with respect to the cutters.

5. In a material slitting device, a pair of peripherally opposed circular cutters, and

- cable, and a circular cutter carried upon eachfreely rotatable rollers co-axial therewith for guiding the material between the cutters.

6. In a material slitting device, a pair of peripherally opposed circular cutters, rollers co-axial therewith for guiding the material between the cutters, and means yieldably pressing the rollers toward the cutters.

7. In a cable splitting device, a plurality of peripherally opposed spring pressed rollers-having peripheral grooves cooperating to provide an adjustable guide passage for the cable, and a pair of peripherally opposed circnlar cutters co-axial with the rollers for splitting the cable as it passes between the rollers.

8. In a cable splitting device, a plurality of spaced parallel arbors, a pair of rollers rotata 1y carried by each of the arbors and having peripheral grooves cooperating to provide a guide passage for a cable, means for yieldably pressing the rollers into engagement with the of the arbors intermediate the rollers, the cutters being peripherally opposed and arranged to split the cable as it passes between the rollers.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day of August. A. D.,1930. ROBERT E. MCFARLAND. 

